Mixed feelings over Zodwa's Harare visit

HARARE - South African dancer and socialite Zodwa Wabantu will be gracing two events in Harare early next month but her visit has divided opinion among Zimbabweans.

Zodwa Wabantu, real name Rebecca Zodwa Libram, is expected to grace Private Lounge on September 8 as well as taking part in the Harare International Carnival which will run for 10 consecutive days from September 1.

The South African socialite and mother of one has made headlines in the international media recently because of her revealing skimpy dresses which she wears without panties.

She told media that putting on underwear makes her feel uncomfortable.

“It makes me uncomfortable. I don’t feel sexy when I’m wearing panties. It’s a preference and people should deal with it,” she said.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke last week confirmed the organisation has hired Zodwa to be part of the Harare International Carnival but they will not allow her to showcase without underwear.

“We will talk to her on the issue of underwear. We want her to come and perform wearing panties during the Harare International Carnival,” Kaseke said.

Former Jah Prayzah manageress Filda “Mother Filda” Muchabaiwa, who is now managing the affairs of Pamela “Gonyeti” Zulu, is of the view that Zodwa’s visit to the country exposes women.

“There is nothing we can learn from Zodwa. In fact she is a disgrace to African women. She exposes us. There are a lot of arts avenues in the world but she capitalises on her natural talent — nakedness,” Muchabaiwa said.

Lady Storm, real name Lyn Magodo, who hoged the limelight as a star dancer in Jah Prayzah’s video Eriza told the Daily News she has nothing to learn from Zodwa.

“Real dancers should teach her how to dance. In terms of her attire, we have nothing to learn from it,” she said.

“I take Zodwa as a dancer and I believe every dancer has his or her own way of doing things. She is coming as a South African and local fans should just watch, be entertained and ignore everything,” he said.

In a previous interview with the Daily News, Zodwa said she was keen to meet President Robert Mugabe.

“...I would love to meet Mugabe, if given a chance, I will certainly love to meet that man,” Zodwa said then.

In Bulawayo, she visited Mqombothi Sports Bar in Nkulumane suburb where she mixed and mingled with her fans, saying the environment in the high density suburb made her feel more at home.

“That’s my kind of lifestyle, being with the people ekasi (in townships) that’s my more of Tshisa Nyama, the outdoors, I just loved it and that it was during the day I met the people,” she said.

“The response was just overwhelming, I am so loved in this country more than any country I have been to. I think they understand Zodwa, they see themselves in me, I am not a bling bling, I relate with them,” she said in a previous interview with this publication.

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